Andy Roddick praised Daniil Medvedev after the 2024 Australian Open final, stating that he is the best player with only one Grand Slam. The Russian reached his sixth Slam final but once again fell short of the title, with his lone Slam victory coming at the 2021 US Open, where he upset Novak Djokovic.
Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick, who also won just one Grand Slam in his career, asserted that Medvedev is “one of the most underappreciated players ever” due to his remarkable career in recent years, having already won 20 trophies.
The American shared his opinion on the podcast Served with Andy Roddick. Like Medvedev, Roddick reached world No. 1 and won a Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open, but Andy Roddick considered Medvedev to be better than himself.
“One of the most underappreciated players ever. And I’ll throw myself under the bus on this one. Twitter the other day, there’s some conversation going and I get looped in and they’re going, someone said, ‘Medvedev’s the best player ever that has one Slam.’ And I was the answer of the counter.
“I know we always celebrate the winner and people are gonna knock Medvedev for being up two sets [and he] let it go – that’s trash if you do that. Because that’s in no way representative of what he did this entire tournament and what frankly he’s done for five or six years,” the American said.
“And I’ll just tell everyone right now, he’s better than I ever was. He has 20-something-odd titles. He’s won however many Masters Series events, one World Tour Finals, has been No 1 in the world, oh by the way – beat Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam final.
“[He] Has put himself there, I mean he’s been in back-to-back Grand Slam finals. This guy is better. If anyone calls him a ‘one Slam wonder’, they’re idiots and don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Roddick also shared his impressions of Medvedev’s outstanding performance in Melbourne, expressing hope that the Russian can lift another Grand Slam title in his career “We’re rightfully celebrating Sinner, but Medvedev is a badass. He has nothing to hang his head about and left everything in Melbourne. It doesn’t really matter how great your fitness level is – that cumulative effect of time on court is eventually going to add up,” he explained.
“His superpower is playing extended rallies and asking the question over and over: ‘Can you punch me out over time?’ He plays the most effective version of tennis that he’s capable of and it has gotten some amazing results.
“This is his sixth major final now and I don’t feel like we give him enough credit. I’ve never left a final watching Medvedev and thought he’s blown it or given it away. He makes someone earn it every single time.
“He’s played Rafa twice, Novak twice and an in-form Sinner. It’s just the way it goes. I lost four finals and won one. Sometimes you just come up against someone better on the day.
“We’re acting like this one’s going to be the thing that breaks him, but he’s done it before and has come back extraordinarily. I’m not worried about him showing up and being at the business end of every hardcourt Slam over the next couple of years and, personally, I’d love to see him win another one,” Roddick added. “He has beaten all the best players on the biggest stages and is no doubt a Hall of Famer in his own right,” the 32-times ATP titlist concluded.
Daniil Medvedev on spending 24 hours on court, setting a record at the Australian Open:
“But at least I got a record in something. I’m in the history books for something. Let’s take it.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/uUbSm7Ejcy